1995 Nissan Maxima Structure

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FRAME NEEDED FOR ALIGNMENT AND TO HOLD UP THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON NISSAN FORUMS. *TR

LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT, WHICH CONNECTS TO FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, ROTS THROUGH. THIS CAUSES FRONT MOTOR MOUNT TO DROP DOWN. SUPPORT IS INTEGRAL TO CHASSIS STRUCTURE AND ALIGNMENT. SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMMON ISSUE ON 1995-1999 BODY STYLE. *TR

WE JUST PURCHASED OUR DAUGHTER HER FIRST CAR,A VERY NICE LOOKING 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT ONLY HAD ONE SMALL RUST SPOT ONE THE REAR FENDER,AND IT SEEMED TO RUN GREAT,SO WE BOUGHT IT HOME. TWO DAYS LATER WE NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT HAS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY IN THE MIDDLE ,WHERE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS ON. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO TILT FORWARD ABOUT THREE INCHES. IT WONT BE LONG TILL THE MOTOR FALLS OUT ON THE GROUND... WHEN I CALLED LOCAL DEALER THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK,NOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THIS CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BY THE FIRST OWNER AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IF OTHER OWNERS DO NOT CATCH THIS DEFECT IN TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT.. WILL BE CALLING NISSAN TO SE WHAT THEY WILL DO. *NM

HOOD SHOCKS CANNOT KEEP HOOD OPEN. FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, THE HOOD CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AND HIT ME PRETTY HARD. MY WIFE HAD TO COME LIFT IT AND TEND TO MY DIZZINESS. DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTERS DON'T WORK ANYMORE, MY WIFE TRIED TO GET INTO THE CAR AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT AND COULDN'T REACH THE PEDALS. CONTACTED NISSAN AND SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT NISSAN USED CHEAP PARTS (PLASTIC COGS) AND AFTER A WHILE THEY STRIP.

THE DOORS LOCK ELECTRONICALLY WITHOUT INITIATION. I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN WHEN I AM IN THE CAR WITH KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THIS COULD LEAD TO MY KIDS BEING LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. *AK

HOOD SUPPORTS FAIL TO KEEP HOOD UP WHEN OPENED. HOOD SUDDENLY SLAMS SHUT WITHOUT WARNING. WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AS HOOD IS HEAVY AND CLOSES WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CHOP OFF FINGERS, ETC. REALLY DANGEROUS. DEALER SAYS NISSAN WON'T REPAIR, AND THAT SHOP MECHANICS USE A WOOD PROP BEFORE THEY WILL GET UNDER HOOD OF 1995 MAXIMA AS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN.

THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS (GAS FILLED HOOD LIFTS) FAIL DURING COLD WEATHER. THEY DO NOT RELIABLY HOLD UP THE HOOD WHEN THEY ARE COLD (E.G., CAR IDLE OVERNIGHT). WHEN WARMED (E.G., BY ENGINE HEAT), THEY USUALLY WORK AGAIN. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARMER, THEY WORK, BUT NOT AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO EVENTUAL TOTAL FAILURE. BOTH THE DEALER AND NISSAN HQ HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM BY FAX LETTER. NISSAN HQ HAS ASSIGNED FILE #2816812 TO THE PROBLEM. NISSAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. FURTHER, A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE INDICATES THAT HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT; THEIR FAILURE COULD LET THE HOOD DROP ON SOMEONE'S HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS SHOULD BE ALL-WEATHER, SAFETY RELATED PARTS THAT ARE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR (SOMETHING AKIN TO SEAT BELTS). NISSAN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FOR ABOUT $100. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE.

THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE HYDRAULLIC RODS THAT HOLD UP THE HOOD FOR ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THESE OFTEN FAIL UNDER COLD CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN WEATHER WARMS, THE RODS WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS FAILURE IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. THE RODS SHOW NO LEAK AND APPEAR TO BE WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AS I RAISED THE HOOD ON MY MAXIMA, NEVER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I REACHED IN TO BEGIN MY INTERIOR INSPECTION WHEN THE HOOD DROPPED STRIKING MY HEAD, BUT ALLOWING ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS BEFORE THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN. IF IT HAD NOT STRUCK MY HEAD AND FORCED ME BACK, I WOULD HAVE BROKEN OR SEVERED SEVERAL FINGERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NISSAN COMPANY HAS OPENED A FILE ON MY COMPLAINT. THE FILE NUMBER IS 2766755. THE CAR IS ONLY 31/2 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN MY OTHERS CARS. NISSAN AGREED TO COMPENSATE FOR 1/2 OF THE REPLACEMENT COST, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SO THAT IT WHY I AM REPORTING THIS.

LIGHT TOUCH OF THE CURB DESTROYED THE BUMPER WHILE PARKING.

THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CLOSED WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED.

DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE METAL DOOR, CAUSING DOOR TO BUCKLE/PIERCE ABDOMINAL CAVITY, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*SD

FRONT DOOR CLOSING STRAP FAILED. *DSH